DEHRADUN: The food safety department on Wednesday issued notices to two popular sweet shops in the city after finding “synthetic colours, fungus and high quantity starch” in some samples. The tests were conducted after local residents complained that some shops were selling substandard sweets.

A customer said that he had purchased ‘boondi laddus‘ from a popular shop on Chakrata road in July but when he opened the box, it was fungus-ridden. He then lodged a complaint at the department. However, the reports came late due to staff crunch at the food safety department and scanty sampling facilities , an official said.

“We have started inspection of all sweet shops since adulteration has become very rampant in the city. We will take legal action against those found flouting norms. As of now, we have sent notices to Anandam on Chakrata road and Ganpati Sweets on Rajpur road,” said food safety officer Anooj Thapliyal.

During festive season, incidents of adulteration increase every year. Dr Praveen Panwar from GDMC hospital said, “Synthetic colours are not only cancerous but they also cause major neurological problems among children and old people as their immunity is low.”

The department has decided to take instant samples and send it for testing either to Rudrapur-based lab or Chandigarh in order to get results as soon as possible and curb adulteration during festive season.